Old soldiers were applauded through the streets of Tyneside for the annual Remembrance Day services

Veterans who fought in the Second World War and subsequent conflicts were out in force to honour those who were killed.

Old friendships were revived as former comrades exchanged stories and remembered pals who did not make it back home.

Former Desert Rats - part of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Newcastle's protecting regiment - laid a wreath at St Nicholas' Cathedral before attending a tribute at the city's war memorial in Old Eldon Square.

Among those who attended were servicemen stationed in the Gulf but home on leave.

One of those who attended at Old Eldon Square was 70-year-old Osy Mills, 70, of North Kenton, who served with the Northumberland Fusiliers fighting the Mau Mau in Kenya from 1953-55.

Mr Mills said: "I've never missed a Remembrance Day in more than 20 years. We saw some pretty dreadful things out in Kenya and kept a bullet each to commit suicide in case we ever got captured. It's on days like this the memories come back."

Before the service, Coun Margaret Carter, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, placed wreaths at memorials near the Civic Centre, the Renwick War Memorial, the Burma Star Memorial, the Memorial to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the South African War Memorial. Veteran Stan Johnson, 83, of Cowpen, Blyth, was a prisoner of war forced to march hundreds of miles in freezing conditions by the retreating German army in January, 1945.

Mr Johnson, formerly of the Lancashire Fusiliers, attending the service at Old Eldon Square, said: "There's a strong bond between people who went through what we did. It's good that Remembrance Day is still an important date in the calendar. It's thanks to organisations like the Royal British Legion that it's kept going.

"But you have to spare a thought for the men and women now serving out in Iraq on a day like this"

At Old Eldon Square the two-minute silence signaled by a 105mm Light Gun fired by the 101 Northumbrian Regiment Royal Artillery Volunteers).

The Lemington Male Voice Choir, accompanied by the Band of the Tyne Tees Regiment, led the hymn singing.